JPH02300877A - Ic card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the mixture of the dust, etc., from the infiltration into an IC card reader/writer by closing the opening part of a card slit in an action awaiting state and an inactive state by means of an opening/closing means. CONSTITUTION:A card slit 2 is kept closed by an opening/closing plate 23 in a read/write awaiting state of an IC card 14 and a non-energization state of an electromagnet 21. When the card 14 is inserted through the slit 2 with a terminal 15 turned up and moved inside until it stops by the plate 23, the insertion of the card 14 is detected by a card detector 12. Then the electromagnet 21 is energized based on the signal received from the detector 12 and simultaneously the motor 6 of a transfer means 6 starts its forward revolution. Thus no dust, etc., is infiltrated into the IC card reader/writer and the insertion of the card 14 is prevented in an inactive state.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial usage bone]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading from and writing to an IC card.

[Conventional technology]

4 and 5 (A
) to FIG. 5(C) are well known. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the conventional device, and FIGS. 5(A) to 5(C) are side sectional views showing the card loading operation.
The configuration and its operation will be explained with reference to these drawings. 1 is a flat box-shaped base, and a slit-shaped card insertion [ ] 2 is provided at the lower part of the front side wall 1a of the base 1, which is an insertion slot for the IC card 14, and Inside the stand I, there is an IC inserted through the card insertion slot 2.
A card transport path 3 is formed which is in sliding contact with both sides of the lower surface of the card 14 and serves as a path through which the IC card 14 is transported. Further, near the card insertion point 2 in the base 1, there is provided a means 6 for transporting the IC card 14, which is composed of a motor 4 and a roller 5 rotated by the motor 4. Furthermore, two guide shafts 7 are provided, one end of which is fixed to a predetermined portion of the rear side wall ib of the base l, and which extend at a predetermined angle with respect to the card transport path 3 as guide members. A contact head 8 is provided which is movable through IH using the guide shaft 7 as a guide shaft. A card conveyance path 3 is provided at the rear end of this contact head 8.
A protrusion 8a is formed so as to come into contact with I.
A conductive contact means and a contact pin 9 at 17, which make conductive contact with a terminal 15 for reading and writing the C card 14, are installed so as to be movable up and down, and this contact pin 9 is connected to the tip of the spring IO. being pushed down by forces. Further, due to the biasing force of the spring 11, the contact head 8 is brought to a stop at a stopper 7a provided at the other end of the guide shaft 7 (referred to as a home position).
It is in a held state. Reference numerals 12 and 13 indicate card detectors for detecting the insertion and ejection states of the IC card 14, which are arranged at predetermined portions on the front and rear sides of the base l, respectively. Next, the operation of the conventional device configured like two legs will be explained. As shown in FIG. 5(A), the IC card 14 is connected to terminal 1.
When the IC card 14 is inserted from the card insertion slot 2 with the IC card 5 facing upward, the insertion of the IC card 14 is first detected by the force/card detector 12, and the motor 4 of the transfer means 6 is activated based on the detection signal from the card detector 12. The forward rotation starts and the rotation of the roller 5 causes the IC card 14 to be moved along the card transport path 3 to the base l.
pull inside. As the card is pulled in, the tip of the IC cart 14 comes into contact with the protrusion 8a of the contact head 8, as shown in FIG. 5(B).
As the IC card I4 is transferred, the contact head 8 moves together toward the rear side wall 1b. At this time, since the contact head 8 moves along the inclined guide shaft 7, the contact head 8 descends. Now, as shown in FIG. 5(C), the contact head 8
When the IC card 14 comes into contact with the rear inner wall of the base l and the tip of the IC card 14 is positioned on the card detector 13, the card detector 13 detects the completion of insertion of the IC card 1, and the card detector 13 The motor 4 is stopped based on the detection signal. Also, at this time, the contact pin 9 of the contact head 8 comes into conductive contact with the terminal of the IC card 14 due to the appropriate contact pressure of the spring IO. In this state, reading and writing of data from the IC card 14 is completedj7, and when a card ejection signal is output from the host device (not shown), the motor 4 of the transfer means 6 is reversed,

[
The C card 14 is transported back toward the card insertion slot 2 by the rollers 5. At this time, the contact head 8 moves toward the original home position 17 to follow the movement of the IC card 14 due to the biasing force of the spring 11,
The conductive contact between the contact bin 9 and the terminal 15 of the IC card 14 is broken. Finally, the IC card 14 passes through the roller 5 1
7, when the IC card 1 is pulled out in the state before the card is pulled in, the card detector 12 detects card ejection, and as a result, the motor 4 stops. [Problem to be Solved by the Invention I7] However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the card insertion slot 2 is always open, so that dust and water can enter and cause electrical conductivity in the contact head 8. There is a problem that the reliability of the contact portion is lowered, and there is also a problem that incorrect insertion of the IC cart 11 cannot be prevented when the IC cart 11 is not in operation, such as during a power outage or a failure of the main body. The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an IC card reading/writing device that is free from intrusion of lumps and the like and can prevent the insertion of an IC card during non-operation. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

The IC card reading/writing device of the present invention includes a card detection means for detecting an IC card inserted into a card insertion slot, and a card detection means for pulling the IC card into the device based on a card detection signal from the card detection means. a transfer means for ejecting a drawn-in IC card to a card insertion slot; a contact head that descends/raises along an inclined guide member when the IC card is drawn in/ejected by the transfer means; conductive contact means for contacting the read and write end f of the IC card when the IC card is pulled into position.
In the card reading/writing device, an opening/closing means for opening and closing the opening of the card insertion slot, at least when an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot;
The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling the opening/closing means so as to open the card insertion slot when the IC card is ejected from the card insertion slot.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, when the IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot, the insertion of the IC card is detected by the card detection means, and the opening/closing means is controlled by the drive means based on the card detection signal from the card detection means, The opening of the card insertion slot is opened and the IC card can be inserted. When an IC card is pulled into the device, reading and writing are performed on the IC card, the IC card is not ejected from the card insertion slot, and the removal of the IC card is detected by the card detection means, the control is performed. The opening/closing means is controlled by the means, and the opening in the card insertion slot is closed.

【Example】

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an IC card reading/writing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an IC card reading/writing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the device shown in FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the same components and members having the same functions as those of the conventional device are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. 1 and 2, 21 is an electromagnet provided with its magnetic pole facing downward, 22 is a movable iron piece for the electromagnet 21, and this movable iron piece 22 is connected to the rear end 22.
The movable iron piece 22 is rotatably supported by a shaft at a point a, and a rectangular opening/closing plate 23 extending so as to close the card insertion slot 2 is attached to the front end of the movable iron piece 22. As shown in the side view of FIG. The electromagnet 2I is installed so that the movable iron piece 22 and the opening/closing plate 23 may be integrally formed with a single iron plate. This corresponds to the opening/closing means described above.The movable iron piece 22 and the opening/closing plate 23 are pushed down by the biasing force of the spring 24 to close the opening of the card insertion slot 2. However, when the electromagnet 21 is excited, the movable iron piece 22
is sucked and rotated in the -L direction, thereby opening the card insertion slot 1 and allowing the IC card 14 to be inserted. This electromagnet 21 is controlled on/off by a control means (not shown) as described below. Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained using FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C). When the IC card 14 is on standby for reading/writing and the electromagnet 21 is not energized, the card insertion slot 2 is closed by the opening/closing plate 23 as shown in FIG.
Now, as shown in FIG. 3(A), when the IC card 14 is inserted from the card insertion slot 2 with the terminal I5 facing upward until it hits the opening/closing plate 23, the card detector 12 detects that the IC card 14 has been inserted. is detected, and based on the signal from the card detector 12, the electromagnet 21 is energized and the motor 4 of the transfer means 6 starts normal rotation. As described above, the excitation of the electromagnet 21 causes the opening/closing plate 23 to rise, so that the IC card 14 can be inserted into the base l through the card insertion slot 2, and the IC card 14 can be inserted into the base l directly below the roller 5.
When the C card 14 is inserted, the I
Pull the C card I4 into the base 1. As the card is pulled in, the tip of the IC card 14 comes into contact with the protrusion 8a of the contact head 8 as shown in FIG. 3(B). They also move as one. At this time, the contact head 8 moves along the guide shaft 7, which is a guide member, so that the contact head 8 descends. Now, as shown in FIG. 3(C), the contact head 8 comes into contact with the rear inner wall of the base l, t2, and the IC card 14
When the tip of the IC card 14 is positioned at the card detector 13F [7], completion of insertion of the IC card 14 is detected by the cart detector I3, and the marking motor t is stopped based on the detection signal from the card detector 13. Then, by stopping the power supply to the electromagnet 21 and releasing the attraction of the movable iron piece 22, the opening/closing plate 23 is lowered and the card insertion slot 2 is closed. At this time, the contact pin 9, which is a conductive contact means provided on the contact head 8, makes conductive contact with the terminal of the IC card 14 with an appropriate contact pressure of the spring 10. In this state, when data reading and writing from the IC card 14 is completed and a card ejection signal is output from the host device (not shown), the electromagnet 2I is energized and the card insertion slot 2 is turned on.
At the same time, the motor 4 of the transfer means 6 is reversed,
The IC card 14 is transported back toward the card insertion slot 2 by the rollers 5. At this time, the contact head 8 moves toward the original home position to follow the movement of the IC card 14 due to the urging force of the spring 11,
The conductive contact between the contact bin 9 and the terminal 15 of the IC card 14 is broken. Finally, when the IC card 14 passes through the roller 5 and is in the state before being pulled in, when the IC card 14 is pulled out, the card detector I2 detects card ejection, and the motor 4 stops and the electromagnet 21 is activated. energization is stopped, and the card insertion slot 2 is closed again by the opening/closing plate 23. In the above embodiment, the card insertion slot 2 is closed when the IC card 14 is pulled into the base l, but since the reading/writing time to the IC card 14 is short, it is left open (7). [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, the opening of the card insertion slot is closed by the opening/closing means during operation standby and non-operation, so that dust and the like cannot enter the inside of the device. This prevents the intrusion of IC cards, keeps the conductive contact means inside the device clean, and maintains reliability.In addition, since insertion of an IC card is prohibited when the device is not operating such as during a power outage, it is possible to prevent accidental insertion. It can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the IC card reading/writing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the side, and FIGS. Figure 3 (C) is the first
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conventional device; FIGS. 5(A) to 5(C) are side sectional views showing the operation of the device shown in FIG. 4. It is. ■ Base, 2 Card insertion slot, 3 Card transport path, 4 Motor, 5 Roller, 6 Transfer means, 7 Guide shaft, 8 Contact head, 9...Contact bin, 12.13...Card detector, 14...
IC card, 15... terminal, 21... electromagnet, 22...
・・Movable iron piece, 23 ・Opening/closing plate. Patent Applicant: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney: 8 Yama, 1 other person Figure 2 Figure 3 (A) Figure 3 (B) Figure 33 (C) It'll 14 + 11'j
Figure 4 (8) Figure 5 (A) Figure 5 (C)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A card detection means for detecting an IC card inserted into the card insertion slot; and based on a card detection signal from the card detection means, the IC card is pulled into the device, and the pulled-in IC card is ejected to the card insertion slot. a contact head that descends/raises along an inclined guide member when the IC card is drawn in/ejected by the transfer means; and a contact head provided on the contact head so that the IC card is pulled into a predetermined position and conductive contact means for contacting read and write terminals of the IC card.
In the card reading/writing device, an opening/closing means for opening and closing the opening of the card insertion slot, at least when an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot;
An IC card reading/writing device comprising: control means for controlling the opening/closing means to open the card insertion slot when the IC card is ejected from the card insertion slot. (2) The IC card reading/writing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing means comprises an electromagnet and an opening/closing plate that opens and closes the card insertion slot by a suction action by the electromagnet.